The Island of Hope

Written in 2020, The Island of Hope is a setting for SSAA a cappella, of the text that I compiled based on Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe. The piece was written for WMU Choirs directed by Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams, on the theme Disconnection. It was pre-recorded and premiered online in July 2021. Back in Summer 2020, I was looking for the text that would reflect the theme, and it came to my mind that, in a way, we all now live on separate islands because of the pandemic. I then went through the Robinson Crusoe and I found a great moment in the book when the main hero journals all the advantages and disadvantages of being alone on an island. While there were a lot of struggles that he had to face, he had an access to food, water, and materials that he could use in daily life. Most importantly, he was the only one from the crew who survived when the boat was crushed. I thought that this story could be a great analogy for the current times. The pandemic brought many struggles but it also showed the true values and gave people a chance to appreciate simple things, such as spending time with the family, hugging a friend, or simply being alive. My hope is that this piece can bring some sort of relief to performers and listeners during these unprecedented times.